PeacePlus Nature Conservation Scientist (Wader Surveys)

Are you passionate about breeding waders and citizen science? The PeacePlus Nature project will be undertaking two national scale breeding wader surveys over 2027 and 2028 with a significant proportion of volunteer engagement and citizen science. We are looking for a wader scientist to help design and deliver these surveys providing scientific evidence to the PeacePlus Nature Programme.

This role offers an opportunity for the right candidate to advance wader conservation science in Northern Ireland and Ireland. This role is a Conservation Scientist (Wader surveys) within the PeacePlus Nature Programme. PeacePlus Nature is an ambitious €20.8 million programme that brings together nine partners to tackle the decline in priority species and habitats in Northern Ireland, and the border counties of Ireland.

PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and supported by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland administration.

You will work with RSPB colleagues in the conservation science, ecology and reserves departments, and our PeacePlus partners in Northern Ireland and in Ireland. You will work with and manage a small, dedicated team of wader surveyors, to develop and deliver national scale breeding wader surveys and wader survey training to develop the volunteer base in Northern Ireland and Ireland. You will also maintain and develop external collaborations, collating and analysing evidence on breeding wader status and trends. Another key part of this role will be the presentation of the results of your work to internal and external audiences, especially survey participants. This role will require field work in Northern Ireland throughout the year, as well as home or home/office-based desk work.

The post is for 33 months fixed term initially, with the possibility that this will be extended further depending on external funding. We welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate the essential criteria and are committed to developing their expertise in breeding wader survey science.

What we need from you

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Ornithological research experience – PhD in a relevant subject or a Masters degree with 3-5 years of demonstrable experience in ornithological research, including applied or field-based projects. Equivalent research experience gained through professional, voluntary, or community science work is welcomed.
• Breeding wader survey and data skills – Knowledge of breeding wader survey methods, data-collection design, and data analysis, gained through participation in a scientific or conservation project. Transferable experience from other bird or ecological survey work is accepted.
• Citizen science survey knowledge – Understanding of citizen-science survey approaches, including their strengths and constraints, and experience contributing to data-collection design and analysis within a scientific or monitoring project.
• Data analysis and scientific reporting – Ability to analyse ecological or ornithological data using appropriate statistical methods and to present results clearly in reports, publications, or other scientific outputs. Experience contributing to peer-reviewed papers is beneficial but not essential if equivalent analytical and reporting experience can be demonstrated.
• Volunteer-based fieldwork logistics – Experience managing access, logistics, and practical arrangements for volunteer-based fieldwork in remote or challenging locations, including awareness of relevant health, safety, and ethical considerations.
• Project management – Ability to plan, coordinate, and deliver projects effectively, including meeting deadlines and adapting plans when circumstances change.
• Volunteer and partner engagement – Ability to engage, motivate, and support volunteers and partners, and to communicate scientific information clearly to both technical and non-specialist audiences.
• IT and GIS capability – Confident user of IT systems (e.g., Microsoft Office, email platforms) and able to use GIS tools, or willing to learn GIS with training.
• Travel to field sites – Able to travel to field sites reliably. A full UK/Ireland driving licence is helpful, but alternative transport solutions or reasonable adjustments can be considered.

This can be a remote role but ideally based within NI

This is a Fixed Term Contract of 33 months and a full-time role of 37.5 hours per week. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from as soon as possible. For further information please contact Mike Shewring [email protected]

As part of this application process you will be asked to submit a CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.